One of the notable changes in Genshin Impact’s rules has been the introduction of a new character, Skirk, in the upcoming version 5.7.
Specifically, according to the latest leaks, Skirk will be the first character in the Genshin Impact universe to be introduced alongside another 5-star character, Escoffier, instead of a 4-star character as is typically the case.
In Genshin Impact, 5-star characters are often introduced in challenges alongside stronger 4-star characters to provide players with a unique experience.
For example, Hu Tao – a premier DPS character – works excellently with Yelan, yet in the testing phase, she is always paired with Xingqiu – a more common 4-star character. The rationale behind this pairing is that 4-star characters are more accessible and require fewer resources. Meanwhile, 5-star characters often demand more resources to unlock their full potential, which may not always be feasible. However, this dynamic may change in the 5.7 update.
According to leak source Seele Leaks, the latest beta of version 5.7 has revealed the experimental pairing of two new characters: Skirk and Dahlia. In this case, Dahlia’s pairing still follows the conventional path of combining with 4-star characters. However, Skirk is paired with Escoffier – a 5-star character introduced in version 5.6, known for its role in supporting the Banger setup. Escoffier will enhance the effectiveness of Banger formations, making her an essential component for this strategy. With Skirk’s abilities requiring players to engage in Banger setups, her pairing with Escoffier is tactically sound. However, this also indicates that Skirk is a high-demand character, necessitating players to invest significantly to achieve optimal performance.
While this meta shift provides an exhilarating experience for players, it also raises concerns that HoYoverse may be pivoting towards a new direction: creating 5-star characters with high synergy. This would necessitate players to “pull” for both characters to maximize effectiveness. This trend has previously been evident in other HoYoverse titles such as Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, and it may well be applied to Genshin Impact in the future. The crucial question now is: Will Skirk be a game-changer or merely a stepping stone? Version 5.7 will answer this question.
